'So these next five, six weeks are critical': Todd Woodbridge raises concern about Novak Djokovic's future, predicts drastic decision post Wimbledon

Former doubles world number one Todd Woodbridge believes that Novak Djokovic’s career is reaching a ‘critical’ stage. The 37-year-old, who is arguably the greatest player in the history of men’s tennis in the singles category in the Open era, having won as many as 24 Grand Slam titles, is going through a difficult phase according to his own high standards.

Djokovic has not won an ATP event or a Grand Slam since the start of 2024. This year, the former world number one has featured in seven events but has only managed to cement a spot in the quarterfinals or beyond on three occasions. During that time, he has suffered exits from the competitions after losing the first match on four occasions.

His most recent outing was at the Madrid Open, where he lost to Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi in the round of 64 in straight sets with a score of 6-3, 6-4. After the match, Djokovic admitted that this could be the last time he has played at the ATP 1000 event in the Spanish capital. “It could be [my last time in Madrid as a player],” he said as quoted by Reuters. “It could be. I'm not sure if I will come back. So, I don't know, I don't know what to say. I mean, I'll come back, maybe not as a player. I hope it's not, but it could be.”

Those comments started rumours about the future of Djokovic, who is going to turn 38 in less than three weeks. Now, while speaking to the Australian Open’s official YouTube Channel, the former doubles world number one, Woodbridge, has stated that the 24-time Grand Slam winner’s career is reaching a ‘critical’ stage. The 16-time doubles Grand Slam winner was of the opinion that Djokovic has lost the fear factor amongst his rivals, and that might force him towards retirement if his performances do not improve by Wimbledon later this year.

“About six weeks ago or maybe just before Miami or at the end of Miami I made a point that if he’s going to win a major this year he has to play a lot of matches and he hasn’t been able to do that,” he said. “Should he play Geneva, which he did the year before, he probably needs to win more. But here’s the new scenario and the thing he’s got to lose to people he has never lost before and they’re all starting to go out there going ‘Oh this could be my chance now’. The invincibility factor has worn down and he has go to make that decision – which it seems he’s made by pulling out of Rome – ‘I’m going to go on what I’ve done before I’m going to go on my reputation, going into my aura at Roland Garros and see if I can pull that off’. It’s hard, though, because physically you can see he’s not bouncing back the way that he was before. So these next five, six weeks are critical for Novak.”

He continued by saying: “If he can perform well in Paris we’ll see him stick around. If he doesn’t… Wimbledon most definitely he’s a contender and he’ll be there, but then I think the rest of the season and his future we are going to have to wait and see what he decides to do. And ultimately given the way that he has spoken in the media we may be looking at a time where we see you know him join Rafa and Roger [in retirement] and the game will have moved on past one of the greatest eras of all time.”